Dental Implants are some of the best ways to replace missing teeth that have been lost due to injury or disease. Dental implants are artificial roots that are surgically placed into your jawbone. As they heal, they fuse with the surrounding bone to act as an anchor for a dental prosthetic such as a crown, bridge, or denture.
Implants offer many advantages over other types of restorations, including:
- Durability
- Comfort
- Functionality
- Natural appearance
Did You Know?
According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry more than 3 million people currently have dental implants, with this number growing by approximately 500,000 every year.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Am I a candidate for dental implants?
You may be a candidate for dental implants if you have missing, broken or severely decayed teeth and are in relatively good overall health. However, you must also have enough bone mass to support the implant, as well as healthy gum tissue to support the dental prosthetic. To determine if you are an ideal candidate for dental implants, schedule a consultation with one of our dentists at Jowett & Lewis Family Dentistry today.
What can I expect when having dental implants placed at Jowett & Lewis Family Dentistry?
When having dental implants placed at our Topeka dentist office your treatment will consist of multiple stages:
- Bone augmentation procedures – in the case that you do not have enough bone mass, your dentist may recommend a bone graft or sinus lift. Both of these procedures add bone material to areas of low bone density in order to promote the growth of new bone. After having a bone graft or sinus lift, it will take a few months for new bone to grow. This stage may or may not be needed, depending on your individual case.
- The surgical implant placement procedure (about an hour) – During this first stage of dental implants, Dr. Jowett or Dr. Lewis will make a small incision in the gums. This allows them to place the dental implants into the jawbone and attach a connector piece known as the abutment. The gums will then be sutured around the abutment.
- The healing and preparation period (between three to six months) – During this stage of your treatment you’ll be expected to follow specific postoperative instructions in order to allow your implant to heal properly. Once your implant has healed, you can be fitted for your permanent dental prosthetic.
Dr. Jowett and Dr. Lewis will be right here with you every step of the way to make sure that all is going well throughout your treatment period.
What can I expect after having dental implants placed?
After having dental implants placed, you will be provided with postoperative instructions to follow, including:
- Taking antibiotics or other medications for a few days
- Avoiding certain foods and beverages while your mouth heals, such as hot or cold drinks, hard candy and sticky foods. Soft foods are recommended during the recovery period.
- Keeping the surgical site clean
- Temporarily abstaining from certain activities
In the first few days following your implant surgery, it is normal to experience some minor discomfort, swelling, and bruising. In most cases, these symptoms will resolve within a few days and can usually be managed with over the counter pain medications.
